In today’s news, after the death of a worker on the building site of the wind farm in the Shetland Islands, a fine was imposed on the engineering company that was responsible for the incident. In the meantime, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has issued a message that expresses cautious optimism in light of the fact that the year 2025 is rapidly approaching. The two nations, on the other hand, highlighted recent developments in the AUKUS program, which is intended to provide the Royal Australian Navy with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, in the announcement that they made jointly. Moreover, Steve Mulholland expresses his serious concern in a letter received by Sky News, noting that the planned changes to business property relief could have a terrible effect on many family-owned enterprises in the UK industry of building. Furthermore, Steve Mulholland has expressed his profound concern in a letter that was received by Sky News. In the letter, he states that the planned changes to business property relief will have a disastrous effect on a large number of family-owned firms operating within the building industry in the United Kingdom.
Man Dies at Wind Farm Building Site; Company Fined
Original Source: Company fined after worker “full of hopes and dreams” dies at wind farm construction site
A fine was levied against an engineering firm following the death of a worker on the Shetland Islands wind farm construction site.
Liam MacDonald, a resident of Tain, Ross-shire, tragically passed away on the morning of June 5, 2022, while working at the Viking site on Upper Kergord, removing dried concrete from a waste.
According to his mom, the 23-year-old was “full of hopes and dreams” and will be missed “beyond words” when he passes away.
The agency worker, Mr. MacDonald, who had begun working at the site a little over one month prior on 4 May 2022, was chipping away at the concrete with a hammer when the bale arm of the skip fell on top of him.
An alarm was sounded at the scene after the 23-year-old was discovered lifeless with the skip’s bale arm pressed against his chest.
Unfortunately, emergency personnel declared Mr. MacDonald dead at the spot after colleagues conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and administered a defibrillator.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector in charge of the investigation, Jackie Randell, determined that principle contractor BAM Nuttall was negligent in preventing the bale arm from dropping.
According to the results of the HSE inquiry, the company was negligent in preventing injuries to those who used, maintained, or cleaned the skip because it did not adequately assess the risks of the bale arm dropping.
“Liam loved life, his family and friends,” said Wendy Robson, who is the mother of Mr. MacDonald. Being a young adult, he had yet to settle into his identity and was brimming with aspirations for the future.
The loss of Liam’s presence here today, in every future day, and in sharing our aspirations with him is a tragedy. He hoped to have children someday, but we will never meet them.
What Liam meant to us and who he was are indescribable. His love and absence are indescribable.
The company BAM Nuttall Limited, whose address is Knoll Road in Camberley, Surrey, admitted guilt for violating two sections of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a). On December 18, 2024, at Inverness Sheriff Court, the corporation was fined £800,000 plus a victim surcharge of £60,000.
“This was a terrible incident that resulted in the young man’s death,” Jackie Randell stated. Those closest to Mr. MacDonald are in our prayers and thoughts at this difficult time.
When it came to protecting their employees, BAM Nuttall had bungled their responsibility. The lesson that all contractors should take away from this case is the need of doing thorough risk assessments and establishing foolproof procedures.
We looked at this matter extensively, and we found that BAM Nuttall should have done more to protect its employees. The lesson that all contractors should take away from this case is the need of doing thorough risk assessments and establishing foolproof procedures.
It is imperative that this risk assessment procedure incorporates the most recent safety data supplied by equipment makers. Emphasising manufacturer safety information to the workers and implementing thorough monitoring measures are of utmost importance for ensuring everyone’s safety.
According to Debbie Carroll, who is in charge of health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Liam MacDonald’s death could have been avoided if BAM Nuttall Limited had provided an adequate risk assessment for the concrete column skip’s maintenance and cleaning.
Their inability to recognise the risks posed by the bale arm of the skip and to secure it before the cleaning procedure started resulted in Mr. MacDonald’s death.
“At this trying time, my prayers are with his loved ones.”
2025 Building Supply Chain Optimism Amid Obstacles
Original Source: Optimism for construction supply chain in 2025 despite challenges
With 2025 just around the corner, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has released a message of cautious optimism.
Supply and demand swings, as well as worries about the stability of the home renovation and housebuilding markets, are just a few of the problems plaguing the construction supply chain.
Regardless, the CLC has expressed hope for the following year in their final statement of 2024.
The construction supply chain is not completely in the dumps.
According to the CLC, product availability has been stable as we neared the year’s end, and there is reason to be optimistic about government reforms and the possibility of reduced economic strain.
Despite ongoing efforts to address the reported shortages of aerated blocks, the statement predicts that the situation will improve by the end of Q1 2025. This is due to the fact that demand was low throughout much of 2024, which helped to moderate the situation.
But the most reason to be optimistic about 2025 is the National Planning Policy Framework revisions, which will stimulate construction activity and probably lead to more greenbelt area being developed.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find it challenging to take advantage of the new measures because the reforms are more likely to benefit larger housebuilders. In addition, the CLC is waiting for mortgage interest rates to decline before declaring a genuine recovery.
Problems of a critical nature persist
Additionally, the statement stresses the importance of having enough funds on hand to support a surge in development efforts, should that surge materialise.
We must ensure that our capacity can face any upcoming problems, as demand has been lower over the past year and a half and the rate of development recovery is unknown.
There are still problems in the home improvement industry, such as the precipitous fall in gas boiler sales that followed a downturn in home sales and, by extension, remodelling activity. The decline of gas boilers has outpaced the increase of heat pumps.
Concerns about the rising cost of electricity have the CLC predicting a 3%-8% increase in the price of construction materials in January. Businesses, particularly SMEs, are already having a hard time paying the rising cost of labour, and there’s no assurance that prices won’t go up again in the months to come.
“In light of these difficulties, the CLC has emphasised the need of the construction industry maintaining tight relationships with their supply chains in order to anticipate and communicate material needs in a timely manner,” the statement reads. The success and longevity of the building sector depend on the constant cooperation and transparent dialogue among manufacturers, wholesalers, and builders’ merchants.
“As the sector navigates these uncertainties, the Group remains hopeful that 2025 could mark the beginning of a more stable and sustained recovery for the UK construction industry. This hope is based on continued cooperation and a supportive policy environment.”
Australia, UK Advance AUKUS Submarine Construction Plan
Original Source: Australia, UK Advance Construction Plan for AUKUS Submarine Program
In their joint announcement, the two countries highlighted recent developments in the AUKUS program, which aims to supply the Royal Australian Navy with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
For the first AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), the Australian Submarine Agency, BAE Systems, and ASC Pty Ltd have all committed to working together on construction planning, supply chain coordination, and worker training.
“Important step in establishing a sovereign nuclear submarine build capability in Australia,” ASC CEO Stuart Whiley said of the deal.
The agreements allow “us to share our vast experience of nuclear submarine capabilities with our industry partners to support the build of submarines in Australia,” further explained Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE’s Submarines business.
Participating companies are currently working to define the delivery timetable, provide the groundwork for future information exchange, and build a new shipyard in Osborne, New South Wales, to facilitate construction.
In March, BAE Systems was awarded a contract worth 4.6 billion Australian dollars ($3 billion) for their work on the AUKUS program.
Developments at SSN AUKUS
Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States formed a trilateral security collaboration in 2021 with the launch of the AUKUS submarine program to strengthen stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The project made strides in a number of important areas this year, and the first submarine is scheduled to be delivered in the early 2040s.
To facilitate communication and cooperation between the two countries’ respective sovereign program management and supply chain operations, the SSN-AUKUS Programme Interface Office was set up in November.
In addition, the AUKUS partners have reiterated their dedication to collaborating with the IAEA in order to maintain non-proliferation safety regulations.
To begin training on submarine repair earlier in June, Australia dispatched its first crew to Pearl Harbour.
Chief of Construction Writes to Starmer, Intensifying Criticism of Budget Adjustments
Original Source: Construction chief steps up criticism of budget reforms in letter to Starmer
Steve Mulholland expresses his deep concern in a letter received by Sky News, stating that the proposed changes to business property relief will have a devastating effect on many family-owned businesses in the UK.industry of building.
To add insult to injury, a prominent trade group for the building industry has warned the prime minister that the budget’s new policies will “fatally undermine” family-run businesses in the industry. This comes after the government has been receiving criticism from businesses since the late autumn.
Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) chief executive Steve Mulholland wrote to Sir Keir Starmer, as reported by Sky News, expressing “very real concerns [among] family businesses” over the changes to Business Property Relief and Inheritance Tax that were announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves.
In 2026, new revisions to the BPR will limit BPR to £1 million and impose a 20% tax on inherited company assets.
“As an association, we have already had to deal with queries from concerned family businesses on what these changes mean, how can they continue to operate in line with these plans,” he said.
Just so we’re clear, we’re talking about long-standing, often massive family-run companies that have built a stellar reputation for prompt delivery and friendly service.
“I question what is the point of continuing,” said one top executive.
“These changes will result in companies deferring investment and hiring decisions, expansion plans will be called into question, with prolonged uncertainty and instability at a time when businesses can ill-afford it.”
“The backbone of the construction industry, worth some £14bn to the economy, supporting over 190,000 jobs” is how Mr. Mulholland said it about the 1,900 members of the CPA.
A large number of these companies are run by families, he informed Sir Keir.
“Our members have a key role to play in building the 1.5m new homes, that is a priority for your government and a key pillar of your Plan for Change”.
After weeks of criticism from business leaders on the effects of the October budget—the first from a Labour administration in nearly fifteen years—his warning to the prime minister follows in the footsteps of those leaders.
Those in charge of the hospitality and retail industries have issued a stern warning that price hikes, job cuts, and reduced investment are inevitable outcomes of the National Living Wage and employer national insurance contribution hikes.
“Your pledge to get Britain building again can only be delivered through renewed investment in new equipment, technologies, innovations, and people,” he wrote.
All of these were areas where the October budget fell short for us.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (20% of SMEs work in construction) and family-run businesses—the backbone of construction plant-hire—as well as the larger business communities throughout the UK will be severely affected by the proposed changes to BPR as part of the broader Inheritance Tax reform.
In keeping with your government’s stated goal of collaborating with businesses to shape policy, we urge you to reevaluate the practical implications of these changes in light of feedback from those companies.
Sustainable business practices are the foundation of a thriving economy, and we are committed to achieving this goal across the whole United Kingdom.
“In their current guise, your proposals will fatally undermine the very companies that are meant to be the foundation of this work, risking a lasting and damaging impact on the wider UK economy.”
Summary of today’s construction news
Overall, we discussed worker Liam MacDonald, who lived in Tain, Ross-shire, tragically lost his life on the morning of June 5, 2022, while excavating dried concrete from a rubbish pile at the Viking site on Upper Kergord. His mother says that her son, who was 23 years old, was “full of hopes and dreams” and that she will miss him “beyond words” when he dies. At the same time, the CLC reports that product availability has remained consistent as we approached the end of the year, and that there is cause for optimism regarding government reforms and the prospect of lessened economic burden. According to the statement, the stated shortages of aerated blocks will be resolved by the end of Q1 2025, even though attempts to remedy the issue are ongoing. Demand was low for much of 2024, which contributed to the situation’s moderating effect. Additionally, ASC Pty Ltd, BAE Systems, and the Australian Submarine Agency have all pledged to collaborate on building plans, supply chain management, and employee training for the inaugural AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN). Worse still, a leading construction sector trade group has written to the prime minister, expressing concern that new rules proposed in the budget could “fatally undermine” family-run enterprises. This follows businesses’ criticism of the administration that began in the late autumn. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, chief executive Steve Mulholland of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) voiced “very real concerns [among] family businesses” regarding the changes to Business Property Relief and Inheritance Tax that chancellor Rachel Reeves had revealed, according to Sky News.
